Chapter History

The Delta Chi Chapter at Marquette University was created during a 1973 national fraternity convention that was being held in Chicago. Victor T. Johnson Purdue,'32 was challenged by Louis Armstrong Wash. '39 Joe Lacchia, N.Y.U. '25 F. Kenneth Brasted Fla.'35. and J. Nick Gray Missouri '56.

F. Kenneth Brasted was bragging about the newly chartered 1970 Creighton University and 1971 Gannon Chapters at Catholic Universities. He suggested exploring more of the Catholic Universities admiring the commitment to both the intellect and the moral, spiritual character. He was particularly enamored of the 28 Jesuit Universities.

Victor T. Johnson quickly challenged Brasted saying the Jesuit Universities were in decaying, blighted, urban areas with accompanying social problems. Over Johnson's objections, Lacchia and Armstrong countered with a proposal to seek a Chapter of Delta Chi at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Johnson's hometown. Lacchia and Armstrong, more importantly, volunteered loans from the fraternity housing fund.

At the same time there was a chapter of Pi Sigma Epsilon, a professional marketing and sales management fraternity at Marquette University, founded in the early 1950s being forced to limit activities to a strictly professional organization or disband. A proposal was made from local Delta Chi alumni to key members of the PSE group. The entire PSE chapter membership decided to form Delta Chi.

Coincidently, a prominent Milwaukee Attorney, Robert C. Castleman, died bequeathing his law offices at 1615 West Kilbourn Ave. and adjoining vacant lots to his widow. The local postal carrier tipped off the new colony about the potential real estate and the property was purchased for $55,000. Conversion of the office building to a fraternity house was completed in 1975 and the last mortgage was retired in 1992.